ESPN parted ways with Ryan Clark on Monday in an awkward on-air dismissal during “NFL Live.” On Tuesday, more layoffs swept through Bristol, and former NFL MVP Cam Newton was among those let go.
The move sparked an immediate pile-on from the NFL community on X, with fans and media personalities believing that firing Newton was the right decision, and some even brought up his viral comments on Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman from the 2025 season.
Cam Newton Joins Growing List of ESPN and NFL Network Casualties
Newton wasn’t the only recognizable face to get fired on Tuesday. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, longtime analyst Charles Davis, NFL analyst Bart Scott, SportsCenter anchor David Lloyd, injury and fantasy expert Stephania Bell, and MLB play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech were all let go as part of the cuts.
Before his dismissal, Newton had served as Stephen A. Smith’s primary Monday co-host on “First Take” during the football season, replacing Shannon Sharpe in that role last year.
With both Newton and Clark gone, Smith now enters the 2026 football season without either of his primary debate partners on the show’s highest-rated day of the week. ESPN has said it will look for a permanent replacement for Newton on Mondays, though no candidates have been named.
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Outkick’s Bobby Burack, who broke the story of Newton’s exit, said, “ESPN has paid people between $2-$6 million a year to be Stephen A’s main debate partner on Mondays during the football season since Kellerman left. ESPN has now fired them all: Michael Irvin, Shannon Sharpe, and Cam Newton. I’m told Smith was intrigued by Jameis Winston, but he is likely to play in the NFL this season.”
ESPN has paid people between $2-$6 million a year to be Stephen A’s main debate partner on Mondays during the football season since Kellerman left. ESPN has now fired them all: Michael Irvin, Shannon Sharpe, and Cam Newton.
I’m told Smith was intrigued by Jameis Winston, but he… https://t.co/D9A2pqRl00
— Bobby Burack (@burackbobby_) July 21, 2026
A user named Riley Gates wrote, “Of all the preposterous things ESPN put out, allowing Cam Newton to spew nonsense literally daily was the worst. He knew zero college football. His NFL takes were awful. Just no value.”
Matt Mackowiak added, “Every single appearance of Newton’s has been an embarrassment to the network. Amazed it took this long.”
Cam Newton Trying To Get Into The ESPN Building This Morning:
— 𝐿𝑜𝑔𝒶𝓃 𝒞𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓎 🦅 (@LoganCarey_6) July 21, 2026
One user on X indicated that Newton’s firing may have been due to his decision to interview Jason Whitlock, who has a beef with Stephen A. Smith. The user wrote, “This is definitely punishment for interviewing Jason Whitlock.”
Jake Rabadi reacted by saying, “Keon Coleman won the war.”
Last season, Newton called out Coleman on his “4th and 1 With Cam Newton” podcast, telling Coleman, “big dog, you’re supposed to be our number one, and you’re playing like a (expletive).”
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The clips went viral across TikTok and X, becoming troll material that followed Coleman through a difficult sophomore campaign in which he managed just 38 receptions for 404 yards and four touchdowns across 13 games while being benched as a healthy scratch multiple times.
Another user on X sent a reaction in support of Coleman and wrote, “We may have lost the battle, but at the end of the day we’re employed and Cam isn’t.”
We may have lost the battle, but at the end of the day we’re employed and Cam isn’t #CookiesFC https://t.co/wWV5lPSsuJ pic.twitter.com/TgVf7A2LCn
— 💡 (@ChargersRuined) July 21, 2026
A Seahawks fan, “SpoonLocks,” wrote, “Keon Coleman has the chance to do the funniest thing ever.”
Whether Newton’s public commentary contributed to Coleman’s struggles is debatable, but the noise certainly didn’t help a young player already dealing with maturity concerns. However, he has a chance to redeem his career under new head coach Joe Brady and shut his critics down in the upcoming season.
As for Newton, the ESPN exit doesn’t leave him without a platform. His podcasts continue to generate viral moments and maintain a sizable audience on YouTube. His main channel has 1.83 million subscribers, while his podcast channel has over 500,000 subscribers.
Being away from ESPN could also benefit Newton, as it would give him full creative control without the constraints of a network that cannot allow its employees to speak freely.
